Ghana’s High Commissioner-designate to South Africa, Mr. Benjamin Quashie, has dismissed suggestions that tensions over the pricing of DStv services in Ghana amount to a trade war between the two countries.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews’ Blessed Sogah on Friday evening, Mr. Quashie stressed that the standoff between government and MultiChoice, operators of DStv, will be resolved through diplomatic and boardroom negotiations rather than public confrontations.
“There is no war. We are not at war with South Africa. We are not fighting with them. South Africa is a big economy, whether we like it or not. We need to learn from them. So in everything that we do, let’s be cognizant of the fact that there’s trade between the two countries,” he explained.
According to him, Minister for Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George is justified in demanding fairer pricing for Ghanaian subscribers, since evidence shows that Ghanaian consumers pay more than their counterparts in other African countries.
“The Communications Minister is not just operating in a vacuum. He has compared pricing policies in the sub-region and concluded that Ghanaians are paying more than they are getting. He wants to enforce the law, and I believe he is right in doing so,” Mr. Quashie said.
MultiChoice, however, has argued that operational costs make it difficult to implement the minister’s directive within the timeline provided, insisting that it requires more time.
“We continue to engage with the Minister in a bid to find an amicable solution that is beneficial for all parties involved but does not jeopardise the viability of the DStv service,” MultiChoice Ghana said in a statement on Friday.
Meanwhile, Mr. Quashie has urged both sides to exercise restraint, pointing to past instances when similar disputes were resolved amicably, such as the case involving MTN. “The good thing is that when it happened with MTN, it was quickly resolved. MTN also has roots in South Africa, and it was resolved. So I can confidently say South Africa is not happy to have a trade war with Ghana when it comes to MultiChoice,” he assured.
He further revealed that Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister has been engaging South African authorities behind the scenes to find a common ground. “I know what the Honourable Okudzeto Ablakwa has done in this. He has worked extra hard to assure South Africa that we are not in a war with them. We just want the right thing to be done. I am confident we will get a solution,” he added.
On suggestions that MultiChoice may eventually exit Ghana, Mr. Quashie cautioned against any bitterness in the process. “Even if they are going, they should not feel their businesses were not appreciated in Ghana…The interest of Ghanaians comes first, but we must also protect the interest of South African businesses,” he noted. “We would need to marry the two and ensure that we do what is right for both parties.”
He admitted that the government faces the difficult task of balancing the expectations of Ghanaian consumers with the need to maintain investor confidence.
Mr. Quashie underscored the importance of Ghana-South Africa relations, noting that South Africa remains one of Ghana’s largest trading partners. He warned that the situation must be managed carefully to protect investor confidence.
“This is not a trade war. It’s a phase, and it will be solved in the boardroom. We’ve seen what trade wars are, and I don’t think Ghana and South Africa are heading in that direction. Diplomacy will prevail,” the High Commissioner-designate emphasized.
Source: Newstitbits.com
